'X Factor' Runner-Up Relieved to Hear Melanie Amaro Won

Having said that Melanie deserves to be the first U.S. winner, Josh Krajcik reveals that he was actually surprised to find out that it was him and not Chris Rene who made it to the final two.

Josh Krajcik may have lost the title of "The X Factor (US)" champion to Melanie Amaro, but he is apparently more than happy to come second. Asked what came to his mind when his competitor was declared the winner, the singer from Wooster, Ohio told reporters backstage, "It was relief that it was over. It was pride for her. It was pride for myself."

Speaking of the 19-year-old, the runner-up said after the Thursday, December 22 show, "She deserves the win. She's wonderful. America decided. And she's got such an amazing voice. She's such a great girl. I couldn't be happier for her." On what he told her afterward, he shared, "I told Melanie she deserves it. And I gave her a kiss on the cheek. And I said, 'Good job.' "

Asked if he was surprised by Chris Rene's elimination, Josh confessed, "I thought it was going to be me. I was ready for me to be third. So I was a little surprised." He added, "But I was happy, because it was like, 'Whoa, I really can win.' I mean, I always believed I could win, but it was that much closer. I was very calm until I heard Chris' name get called for third place."

On how he feels now that the competition is over, Nicole Scherzinger's protege admitted, "I feel like the future's bright. Everything that's gone on in my life has led to tonight. It's a turning point in my life, and now it starts. I'm going to get to work." As for his future plans, he said, "I think Saturday I'll go home. I'm going to decompress for about a week. Come back out and get to work."

Josh also advised those who will be auditioning next year to "practice getting not much sleep and be ready to work hard." He explained, "This was not an easy thing to do. It's fun, but you've got to have it. The amount of talent we saw, especially towards the end, I think really the final 12 - I've never seen anything like it on any other show. I would say to the Americans out there who want to be the next 'X Factor' winner, get ready to bring your A game. You're going to need it."